6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body

Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Cardiovascular

Cellular phone use does not acutely affect blood pressure or heart rate of humans.

No Effects Found

Tahvanainen K, Niño J, Halonen P, Kuusela T, Laitinen T, Länsimies E, Hartikainen J, Hietanen M, Lindholm H. · 2004

View Original Abstract
Share:

35-minute cell phone exposures at maximum power showed no immediate blood pressure or heart rate changes in healthy adults.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Finnish researchers exposed 32 healthy adults to cell phone radiation at both 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies for 35 minutes each, then carefully measured their blood pressure and heart rate during and after exposure. They found no significant changes in either cardiovascular measure compared to fake (sham) exposure sessions. This study directly contradicted an earlier report that suggested cell phone use might raise blood pressure.

Why This Matters

This study represents an important attempt to replicate concerning cardiovascular findings from earlier EMF research. The researchers used rigorous methodology including double-blind, placebo-controlled design with crossover trials, and tested both major cell phone frequencies used at the time. However, the 35-minute exposure duration, while matching the original study they were replicating, represents acute exposure only. The reality is that most people use their phones for much longer cumulative periods daily, often for years or decades. What this means for you is that while this study provides reassurance about short-term cardiovascular effects, it doesn't address the potential for longer-term impacts from chronic exposure patterns that characterize real-world cell phone use.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz - 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHz - 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz cellular phone Duration: 35 min

Study Details

A recent study raised concern about increase of resting blood pressure after a 35 min exposure to the radiofrequency (RF) field emitted by a 900 MHz cellular phone. In this randomized, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial, 32 healthy subjects were submitted to 900 MHz (2 W), 1800 MHz (1 W) cellular phone exposure, and to sham exposure in separate sessions.

Arterial blood pressure (arm cuff method) and heart rate were measured during and after the 35 min R...

Arterial blood pressure and heart rate did not change significantly during or after the 35 min RF ex...

The results of this study indicate that exposure to a cellular phone, using 900 MHz or 1800 MHz with maximal allowed antenna powers, does not acutely change arterial blood pressure and heart rate.

Cite This Study
Tahvanainen K, Niño J, Halonen P, Kuusela T, Laitinen T, Länsimies E, Hartikainen J, Hietanen M, Lindholm H. (2004). Cellular phone use does not acutely affect blood pressure or heart rate of humans. Bioelectromagnetics 25:73-83, 2004.
Show BibTeX
@article{k_2004_cellular_phone_use_does_3434,
  author = {Tahvanainen K and Niño J and Halonen P and Kuusela T and Laitinen T and Länsimies E and Hartikainen J and Hietanen M and Lindholm H.},
  title = {Cellular phone use does not acutely affect blood pressure or heart rate of humans.},
  year = {2004},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14735556/},
}
PubMed: 14735556

Cited By (73 papers)

View all 73 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Finnish researchers found no evidence that cell phone radiation raises blood pressure. They exposed 32 healthy adults to both 900 MHz and 1800 MHz signals for 35 minutes and measured no significant changes in arterial blood pressure compared to fake exposure sessions.
A 2004 study found that cell phone radiation does not affect heart rate. Researchers monitored 32 people during 35-minute exposures to maximum-power cell phone signals at both common frequencies and detected no significant heart rate changes during or after exposure.
Research shows cell phone use does not acutely harm heart function. A controlled Finnish study exposed people to maximum-power cell phone radiation for 35 minutes and found no immediate effects on blood pressure or heart rate compared to sham exposure.
Studies suggest minimal acute cardiovascular risks from cell phone use. Finnish researchers found no immediate changes in blood pressure or heart rate when people were exposed to cell phone radiation at both 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies for 35 minutes.
Cell phone radiation appears to have no immediate impact on blood pressure. A 2004 study exposed 32 healthy adults to maximum cell phone radiation levels and found no significant blood pressure changes during or after 35-minute exposure sessions.